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The U.S. Department of Justice ruled Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., must provide gluten-free and allergen-free food for students with food allergies under the American with Disabilities Act. The settlement, which also requires Lesley to pay $50,000 to students who filed the claim, "puts all universities on notice that they're going to have to make these accommodations for students with celiac, gluten sensitivity and other food allergies," said Marilyn Geller, CEO of the Celiac Disease Foundation.

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Hotels can capitalize on rising demand for gluten- and allergen-free foods. "Over 100 million Americans, or approximately one-third of the U.S. population, require some type of gluten- or allergy-free diet," said Kim Koeller, author of "Let's Eat Out with Celiac/Coeliac and Food Allergies."

One in 25 children in the Green Bay, Wis., area school district reportedly have a food allergy or intolerance, prompting school nutrition professionals to prepare and label allergen-free meals each day. Officials say the largest increase in demand has been for gluten-free meals. Nutrition professionals are trained not to cross-contaminate the allergen-free meals, and say that type of care puts students and parents at ease.

Kathleen Reale used her food marketing background to create BeFreeForMe.com, a new Web site offering people with food allergies information and a chance to try new products that don't contain gluten, nuts, dairy, soy and fish. Reale, who has celiac disease, says people who sign up at the site will get a monthly newsletter and coupons from manufacturers, retailers and restaurants that feature allergen-free items.

A federal appeals court decision Friday handed states a victory in their fight to lower drug costs for Medicaid recipients and other low-income residents. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said a Michigan preferred drug list that steers patients toward less costly prescription drugs "serves valid Medicaid goals" and does not overly burden doctors who must seek permission to prescribe drugs not on the list. Half of all states use similar measures to control drug costs.